KNOW JESUS, KNOW HEAVEN

Who is to say that Jesus lived at all? Who is to say that He was more than an ordinary man and lived a perfect life? Who is to say He knelt in a garden and bled from every pore and voluntarily hung on a cross? Who is to say He was resurrected, lives today, and is coming again?

We are and we do!

Latter-day Saints join with Christian brothers and sisters worldwide in bearing testimony of Christ. Our LDS testimony is not based on tradition, the Bible, or Jesus’ place in history alone, however; we also believe because of Joseph Smith. We bear a testimony based on the Book of Mormon, living witnesses, and the Holy Ghost.

My son, Russell, who served his mission in Malaga, Spain, was sometimes told, “Mormons are not Christians.”

He would respond, “Of course we are. The name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Some would counter, “But you believe in a different Christ.”

Russell would say, “We believe in the exact same Christ that you do, but we don’t just know Him through the Bible.” He then explained that we have additional scripture and the words of living apostles and prophets that testify of Christ and help us come to know Him. Our view is comprehensive because of additional sources that teach us more about the same Savior.

It is one thing to believe in Jesus. It is another thing to know him.

I once saw a bumper sticker that summed it up like this: No Jesus, No Heaven. Know Jesus, Know Heaven.

Through the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon we can come to KNOW Jesus and KNOW heaven more completely. It is our call.